Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia Guanacaste Costa Rica

The Liberia Airport in Guanacaste Costa Rica had over 51,000 passengers traveling through in January 2010. This was an increase of 21.7% over January 2009 and 10.4% over January 2008.  The Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) is very close to many Guanacaste resorts – Playa Hermosa is just 20 pleasant minutes from the airport. International flights started in 2002; now you’ll find American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United, US Airways – even Finnair. About 30 different airlines fly into Liberia. If you’re heading for the Papagayo Peninsula or to Tamarindo, you’ll save a 4.5 hour drive from San Jose by flying into Liberia.

Clinica-Biblica Hospital in San Jose Costa Rica

Costa Rica health care is attracting visitors from the US and other countries. Visitors are coming not only for cosmetic surgery and dental work, but for knee replacements. The World Health Organization ranks Costa Rica’s health care system one spot ahead of the US. According to a report on Costa Rica by Kevin Brass this week in the  International Property Journal, the US is expected to generate 1.3 million medical tourists next year. Costa Rica is in the top 10 destinations for medical tourism.

The Costa Rican government is encouraging developers to build projects for foreign retirees that would include health care facilities.

In yesterday’s election for President of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla was expected to take the lead, but there was a question of whether she’d get the 40% of votes needed to avoid a runoff in this multi-candidate election. She won nearly 47% of the vote, so is scheduled to take office May 8th. Not only will Chinchilla be the first woman president of Costa Rica, she won all 7 voting districts, which hasn’t been done in the last quarter century. 50 years old, Pres-dent-Elect Chinchilla has served in the legislature, was Minister of Security, and served as Vice President until she resigned a year ago to run for President.

On Wednesday the new Costa Rica highway from San Jose to Caldera on the central Pacific Coast opened, after 34 years of planning. This 77 kilometer highway cuts the time for the trip from San Jose to Caldera from 90 minutes to 45 minutes, a major time saver. Various sections are two lane, three lane and four lane, with shoulder lanes.  This opening is long awaited good news for the area. We’ve driven on some sections of the new road and the positive difference is amazing! Much better driving conditions, but still offering great views of the Costa Rican countryside.

Manuel Antonio beach Costa Rica

The Costa Rica weather beckons us to Go South, especially this week when frost is delaying planes at Tampa International Airport. With Tampa temperatures this morning dipping to 27 degrees, compare these:

Papagayo Gulf in Guanacaste: high of 83°, low of 63°

Esterillos:  high of 83°, low of 61°

Manuel Antonio: high of 82°, low of 72°

You can check Costa Rica weather online – just use the drop down menu to choose your Costa Rica location and see the forecast for the next 15 days.

Safe Havens are a property trend to watch in 2010 according to the International Property Journal:

Safe Havens:  A germ of a marketing idea will continue to develop as a movement, as buyer and investors look for overseas spots to stash income. Fear of economic collapse will spread, along with Ayn Rand quotes. Smart promoters and developers will market property as a hedge against financial disasters.

Costa Rica is one of these safe havens. Barry Strudwick has been advocating this for years and has been developing del Pacifico as such a safe haven.  Several of our clients who have purchased in Costa Rica and are looking in Costa Rica cite economic concerns and preserving a portion of their assets as motivation. A small number are even planning to move to a safe haven.

……………………….Who is John Galt?

Most businesses in Costa Rica shut down from December 18th to January 4th. Not just government offices, but most businesses! Tourism businesses remain open, but the rest of the country can relax and enjoy the season with their family and friends.

Tents along Manuel Antonio Park beach in Costa Rica

A year ago the beach approach to Manuel Antonio Park was lined with sidewalk vendors and there were tents and clotheslines on the adjacent beach.

Sidewalk vendors near Manuel Antonio Park

Today all that is gone. With the approaching opening of the new marina in Quepos and the importance of tourists at Manuel Antonio Park, the government has been effective in cleaning up this area and making it more easily accessible.

Beach near Manuel Antonio Park in Costa Rica

Playa Hermosa Guanacaste Costa Rica

A friend living in Playa Hermosa in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica answered my question about electric and water interruptions:

Hermosa is not a real crazy city. It is a quiet little relaxing place, as you know, and everyone remembers to find time to go and eat breakfast, something we never did or do in the US, where we are always on the go. Hermosa reminds you to stop and enjoy the little things in life, like a cup of coffee with the waves crashing. The electricity really never goes out any more as they spent millions upgrading the power and the water maybe once a month for half a day. But they are in the process of upgrading that system, too, so I think that will be in the past in another year or so. But I always remind myself that I came to Costa Rica to get away from concrete, steel and freeways.

San Juan Costa Rica International Airport

For many people, especially vacationers, it matters how far their destination is from a major airport. A home in Escazu or Santa Ana Costa Rica is just 30 minutes from the San Jose airport. If you want a house or condo in Costa Rica that’s close to the beach, you may have a 2-3 hour drive – or if you’re headed to Guanacaste, it may be a 4-5 hour drive.

Since 2002, you can also fly into the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia. From there you can be at your Costa Rica home in Playa Hermosa or the Papagayo Peninsula in 20-30 minutes or to Tamarindo in an hour.

Many communities throughout Costa Rica have small local airports that handle the smaller planes flown by the domestic airlines and charter flights. There are over 3 dozen of these smaller airports – some may be a grass strip.

Since they fly in and out only once per trip, some people don’t mind a longer ride from the airport – they’re more interested in the distance to a supermarket or restaurants. If it matters to you – be sure to check the driving time from the Costa Rica development that you’re considering to the nearest international airport.